Katikati’s eyes and earsNeighbourhood Support: ‘Close neighbours is what it’s about’

Published date29 September 2022
The good news is she thinks it hasn’t changed

A Katikati local of 50 years who heads up the town’s Neighbourhood Support movement, Di says COVID-19 also brought out the best in the town.

“I think through COVID people were more caring.”

Di is the Katikati convener of Neighbourhood Support, a nationwide community-led movement that brings people and neighbourhoods together to create safe, resilient, and connected communities that deter crime.

She says it’s proven that Neighbourhood Support networks that promote themselves with signage and stickers on their letterboxes are a deterrent for burglars.

The Katikati group is doing well with more than 1480 households on board out of Katikati’s 5000 population.

With a growing town, she wants to see more groups set up street by street.

“I used to know 90 per cent of people here and now I’d be lucky to know 9 per cent. But the community is helpful, always doing good things and lifting people up, it’s overall a pleasant and safe place to live.”

Di spends every Wednesday at the Katikati Police Station in her role with Neighbourhood Support. Katikati police now cover an area from town to the Wairoa River Bridge near Bethlehem, including Omokoroa and Te Puna, but they are staffed with nine officers and two transport patrol officers, she says.

Alongside Neighbourhood Support is the Night Owls of Katikati. Spokesperson for this community patrol voluntary group, Ross Sutherland, agrees the town is generally in great shape.

“We can go out for a whole month, and nothing happens. That’s a good sign, isn’t it?”

The community patrol has 18 drivers and is currently applying for grants and seeking donations for another patrol vehicle.

Ross says they welcome volunteers.

“We are the eyes and ears of the police, and police can’t be out all the time. We also enjoy doing it. You drive with others, so you get to meet people, and we know we’re a deterrent to crime.

“People know us and know we’re out there and a lot of residents have said they feel safer.”

Neighbourhood Support groups minimise anti-social behaviour, support victims of crime and learn how to...

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